Strictly star wars

Fans fear for Tess Daly's future amid claims the BBC plans to headhunt Holly Willoughby for its flagship dance show

- Eve Macdonald

Following Phillip Schofield’s dramatic departure from This Morning last month, rumours have been swirling around Holly Willoughby’s future – and the possibility of her leaving the daytime magazine programme. Last week, claims were made that the 42-year-old presenter is being eyed up as a new host of Strictly Come Dancing.

The BBC has reportedly been trying to “lure” the mum-of-three from ITV for some time and this could be the perfect partnership.

A BBC source revealed, “Holly is the golden goose. There are ideas of how she could slot in – nobody is quite sure about that yet but they think she would be perfect. It seems like a big project to get her to do it, and would mean moving things around on the show somehow, but there are executives at the BBC who want it to happen.”

However, Strictly fans were quick to ask what such a move would mean for long-time hosts Tess Daly, 54, and Claudia Winkleman, 51.

One commented online, “What and fire the other two? Or at least spilt them up? Not very nice”, while another blasted, “Do not mess with Strictly, leave Tess alone.” A supporter added, “Keep Tess, she’s a natural, shan’t watch it if they take her off for Holly.”

PR guru Mark Borkowski believes any changes to the hugely successful show, which pulls in up to seven million viewers an episode, could prove unpopular with audiences and understands viewers’ fears over the possibility of losing the current hosts.